Errors in judging the approach rate of motorcycles in nighttime conditions and the effect of an improved lighting configuration

► Individuals use rate of visual looming to judge time to passage (TTP). ► We examine the accuracy of speed judgments for motorcycles and cars at night. ► Extremely poor accuracy in speed judgments for solo headlight motorcycles. ► Tri-headlight configuration improves the accuracy of speed judgments for motorcycles. ► Accuracy improved by separation of headlights on the horizontal and vertical axis.